AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan
The Cèze is a tributary of the Rhône, feeding in from the west. The vineyards that carpet the Cèze valley and climb up the surrounding hills make up Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan. Until the 1970s, it was famous for rosé, but winemakers have since turned their attention almost entirely to reds.
Deep banks of sand and sandstone give these wines richness and finesse; pebblier soils contribute depth and concentration. They’re supple, soft and taste of succulent sun-warmed red berries and spice. Grenache and Syrah are the principal grapes, but the abundance of Carignan grown here adds firmness and an enthralling dark tint in the glass.
Today their rosés are rare, but they’re just as delicious as they ever were; sometimes pale, sometimes deep, but always richly flavoured and classically Rhône. They use Cinsault and Grenache noir, but most of all the rare Rhône speciality Clairette Rose. It’s a beautifully floral variety, and they grow more of it than any other Named Village.
Chusclan’s roots run deep, but it rolls with the times.
Informations
Climate: Mediterranean influenced by Mistral wind
Soils: Sandy / Clay / Rockys
Website appellation: https://www.cotesdurhone.com/
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 261 HA
Total production in 2023: 9 220 HL
Average annual yeld: 35 HL/HA
Year of recognition within the AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages: 1967
Communes : Chusclan, Codolet, Orsan, Saint-Etienne-des-Sorts and Bagnols-sur-Cèze
Grape varieties
Main grape varieties
- Grenache noir,
- Mourvèdre,
- Syrah
Secondary grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Brun argenté (locally known as Camarèse or Vaccarèse),
- Carignan,
- Carignan banc,
- Cinsault,
- Clairette,
- Clairette rose,
- Counoise,
- Floréal,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache gris,
- Marsanne,
- Muscardin,
- Piquepoul blanc,
- Piquepoul noir,
- Rolle (or Vermentino),
- Roussanne,
- Terret noir,
- Ugni blanc,
- Vidoc,
- Viognier
To know
History
Bronze age swords, bracelets and burial mounds found in the area suggest very early human settlements.
In the 17th century, the village of Chusclan was a dependency of the Viguerie (administrative court) of Uzès, which already used the Côte du Rhône name. Chusclan wines have long had a reputation for being sunny and carefree, and were a firm favourite with French aristocrat Madame de Sévigné who wrote to her daughter, “Our good priest is very keen to try this Chusclan wine, which, they say, will add 10 years to his life. The thought cheers him - both the idea of a Chusclan wine, and of re-discovering his lost youth...” The rosés were awarded Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan status in 1967, followed by the reds in 1971.
Climate
Mediterranean, influenced by the Mistral wind.
Soils
The vines grow on slopes and stony terraces with occasional pockets of sand. The geological make up is varied, and includes limestone-marl, sandstone and alluvial deposits.
Geography
The appellation area encompasses the villages of Chusclan, Codolet, Orsan, Saint-Etienne-des-Sorts and Bagnols-sur-Cèze, all in the Gard département.
Varieties and flavours
Including a minimum of 66% of Grenache noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre, with Grenache being mandatory, Chusclan red wines are generous, with a beautiful ruby colour. These are heady wines, full of red berry aromas and spicy notes, and are generally best enjoyed within 5 years.
Rosés from Chusclan show flavours of grapefruit and wild berries..
Associated appellations
